Articulating optical fiber guide system

ABSTRACT

An articulating cable guide system for routing cables includes a plurality of fittings connected together via ball and socket coupling. Each fitting includes a base defining a cable support surface and a pair of opposing sidewalls extending therefrom, the support surface and the sidewalls cooperating to define an open first end, an open second end, and an open access end of the base. Each fitting includes at least one of a ball mount and a socket mount. The ball mount includes a plurality of pins aligned along a first plane and the socket mount defines a plurality of slots configured to receive the pins, wherein the pins and the slots restrict the movement of the coupling to pivotal motion generally along two perpendicular planes, wherein each of the two perpendicular planes is different than the first plane.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/587,807, filed on Sep. 30, 2019, which is a Continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/769,703, filed on Apr. 19, 2018, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,444,459, which is a National Stage Application ofPCT/US2016/057715, filed on Oct. 19, 2016, which claims the benefit ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/243,476, filed on Oct. 19, 2015, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made toeach of the above disclosed applications.

BACKGROUND

This application is directed to a system for the management and routingof optical fiber cables.

In the telecommunications industry, the use of optical fibers for signaltransmissions is accelerating. With the increased utilization of opticalfiber systems, optical fiber cable management requires industryattention.

One area where optical fiber management is necessary is the routing ofoptical fibers from one piece of optical fiber equipment to another. Forexample, in a telecommunications facility, optical fiber cables may berouted between fiber distribution equipment and optical line terminatingequipment. In buildings and other structures which carry such equipment,the cable routing can take place in concealed ceiling areas or in anyother manner to route cables from one location to another.

When routing optical fibers, it is desirable that any routing systemwill be readily modifiable and adaptable to changes in equipment needs.Accordingly, a routing system which would require a high capital outlayand which could not be readily adapted to changes in a customer's needsis not practical. Namely, if routing paths, once established, areforever fixed, the system cannot adapt. Also, and perhaps mostimportant, any routing system must protect optical fibers from damage.In the use of optical fibers, it is recognized that the fibers shouldnot be bent beyond a minimum radius of curvature.

Improvements are desired.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the aspects of the disclosure, an optical fiber cableguide/routing/management system is described. More specifically, theoptical fiber guide system is in the form of an articulating guidesystem that allows the individual fittings of the system to be able topivot in the up, down, left, and right directions relative to each otherto define various paths for the fiber optic cables.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, the fiber or cable guidesystem comprises a plurality of fittings connected together via ball andsocket coupling, wherein each fitting includes a base defining a cablesupport surface and a pair of opposing sidewalls extending therefrom,the support surface and the sidewalls cooperating to define an openfirst end, an open second end, and an open top of the base, wherein eachfitting includes at least one of a ball mount and a socket mount that isconfigured to fit the ball mount, the ball mount including a pluralityof pins aligned along a first plane and the socket mount defining aplurality of slots configured to receive the pins of the ball mount,wherein the pins and the slots are configured to restrict the movementof the ball and socket coupling to pivotal motion generally along twoperpendicular planes, wherein each of the two perpendicular planes isdifferent than the first plane.

According to another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a fittingused in an articulating fiber or cable guide system that comprises abase defining a cable support surface and a pair of opposing sidewallsextending therefrom, the support surface and the sidewalls cooperatingto define an open first end, an open second end, and an open top of thebase, wherein the fitting includes at least one of a ball mount and asocket mount that is configured to fit the ball mount, the ball mountincluding a plurality of pins aligned along a first plane and the socketmount defining a plurality of slots configured to receive the pins ofthe ball mount, wherein the pins and the slots are configured torestrict the movement of the ball and socket coupling to pivotal motiongenerally along two perpendicular planes, wherein each of the twoperpendicular planes is different than the first plane.

According to another aspect, the fitting used to form the articulatingfiber or cable guide system comprises a base defining a cable supportsurface and a pair of opposing sidewalls extending therefrom, thesupport surface and the sidewalls cooperating to define an open firstend, an open second end, and an open top of the base, wherein thefitting includes a ball mount at the first end and a socket mount thatis configured to fit the ball mount at the second end, the ball mountincluding a plurality of pins aligned along a first plane and the socketmount defining a plurality of slots configured to receive the pins ofthe ball mount, wherein the pins and the slots are configured torestrict the movement of the ball and socket coupling to pivotal motiongenerally along two perpendicular planes, wherein each of the twoperpendicular planes is different than the first plane, wherein at leastone of the sidewalls of the base defines breakable portions for forminga side exit in addition to the open first and second ends, and whereinthe fitting defines a breakline for forming the fitting into twodifferent fittings, one defining a ball-only mount and the otherdefining a socket-only mount.

A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in thedescription that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individualfeatures and to combinations of features. It is to be understood thatboth the forgoing general description and the following detaileddescription are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictiveof the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosedherein are based.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the description, illustrate several aspects of the presentdisclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cable guide system having features that areexamples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates the ball end of a fitting used to form the cableguide system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the socket end of a fitting used to form the cableguide system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of a system formed solely fromthe fittings shown in FIGS. 2-3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the system of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates one of the universal fittings that can be used toform the cable guide system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates the universal fitting of FIG. 6 with the break-outportions of the sidewalls removed;

FIG. 8 illustrates the universal fitting of FIGS. 6-7 with a cablemanager attached to a side exit formed on the fitting;

FIG. 9 illustrates a ball-only end fitting formed by splitting theuniversal fitting of FIG. 6 in half and

FIG. 10 illustrates a socket-only end fitting formed by splitting theuniversal fitting of FIG. 6 in half.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the presentdisclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts.

In general, the disclosure relates to management and routing of opticalfiber cables. More specifically, the disclosure relates to an opticalfiber cable guide/routing/management system. As will be described infurther detail, the optical fiber guide system may be in the form of anarticulating guide system that allows the individual fittings of thesystem to be able to pivot in the up, down, left, and right directionsrelative to each other to define various paths for the fiber opticcables.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an example fiber guide system 10 havingfeatures that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with theprinciples of the present disclosure is illustrated.

The system 10 of the present application may be formed by a series offittings 12 that interlock to define a pathway for the opticalfibers/cables. In the depicted embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the guidesystem 10 may utilize a number of different types of fittings 12,depending upon the use and the application of the system 10.

One of the fittings 12 usable within the system 10 is illustrated inFIGS. 2-3. The fitting 12 a includes a base 14 and a cover/retainer 16pivotally attached to the base 14. The base 14 defines a support surface18 and a pair of opposing sidewalls 20 extending upwardly therefrom.Cooperatively, the support surface 18 and the sidewalls 20 define anopen first end 22, an open second end 24, and an open top 26. The opentop 26 is partially blocked by the cover 16 when the cover 16 is in thelatched position, as will be described in further detail below.

Each fitting 12 a is configured for attachment to a similar fitting 12 aby a ball/socket type joint or mount. Each fitting 12 a defines a ballmount 28 at the first end 22 and a socket mount 30 at the second end 24,wherein the ball mount 28 of a first fitting 12 a can intermate with thesocket mount 30 of an adjacent fitting 12 a in forming the system 10. Byproviding each fitting 12 a with both a ball mount 28 and a socket mount30 for inter-attachment, manufacturing efficiencies may be achieved.

Still referring to FIGS. 2-3, each ball mount 28 defines a plurality ofpins 32 provided on the surface of the ball mount 28. In the depictedembodiment, four pins 32 are provided, one on the top, one on thebottom, one on the left, and one on the right side of the ball mount 28,wherein all of the pins 32 are generally aligned along a plane generallyparallel to the first open end 22 of the fitting 12 a.

Each socket mount 30 defines a plurality of slots 34 extending in adirection from an end 36 of the socket mount 30 toward the base 14 ofthe fitting 12 a. In the depicted embodiment, four slots 34 are providedthat are configured to align with the pins 32 of the ball mount 28. Oneslot 34 extends along the top, one slot 34 extends along the bottom, oneslot 34 extends along the left side, and one slot 34 extends along theright side of the socket mount 30.

The pins 32 and the slots 34 are configured to restrict the otherwise360-degree rotational motion provided by the ball/socket joint. The topand bottom pins 32 can ride within the top and bottom slots 34,respectively, as two fittings 12 a are pivotally articulated along afirst plane P1. The right and left pins 32 can ride within the right andleft slots 34, respectively, as two fittings 12 a are pivotallyarticulated along a second plane P2 generally perpendicular to the firstplane P1.

As shown, each of the slots 34 defines a series of detents 38 at variousincrements along the slots 34. The detents 38 are configured to interactwith the pins 32 and provide various stop or fixed positions for the twofittings 12 a as the fittings 12 a are articulated to a desiredorientation with respect to each other.

The detents 38 may be spaced to provide stop positions at preselectedangle increments, such as every 15 degrees, for the articulatingfittings 12 a. The closed ends of the slots 34 provide the maximumdeflection angle between the two articulating fittings 12 a.

Each sidewall 20 of the base 14 also defines an angled portion 40 thatact to provide positive stops when abutting a similar fitting 12 a asthe fittings 12 a are pivotally articulated along the first plane P1.

The cover/retainer 16 is configured to at least partially block the opentop 26 of the base 14 to retain the fibers/cables within the pathwaycreated by the articulating guide system 10. In the depicted embodiment,the cover 16 defines a C-shaped latch/catch 42 at each end 44 thatallows both snap-fit latching and pivotal motion with respect to hingeposts 46 defined at the top of the sidewalls 20.

As shown, the cover 16 (as well as the sidewalls 20) defines a similarconfiguration at each end 44 and can be unlatched and latched fromeither end 44. A tab 48 provided adjacent the C-shaped latch 42facilitates opening and closing of the cover 16.

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate a fiber guide system 10 formed solely of thefittings 12 a of FIGS. 2-3, wherein the fittings 12 a are shown invarious articulated positions. As shown in FIG. 5, the base 14 of eachfitting 12 a defines fastener openings 50 through the support surface 18thereof for mounting the guide system 10 to various fixtures such assupport brackets, etc.

In FIGS. 4-5, the cover 16 of one of the fittings 12 a is shown in anopen position.

As noted above, the guide system 10 of the present application mayutilize a number of different types of fittings 12, depending upon theuse of the system 10.

FIGS. 6-10 illustrate a fitting 12 b having a different configurationthan the fitting 12 a shown in detail in FIGS. 2-5. The fitting 12 bshown in FIGS. 6-10 may be referred to as a universal fitting 12 b sinceit not only allows mounting and articulation with respect to othersimilar fittings 12 b to provide a cable pathway between the sidewalls20′ but also allows for a cable pathway through at least one of thesidewalls 20′ in a perpendicular direction.

As shown in FIG. 6, the universal fitting 12 b defines a first open end22′, a second open end 24′, and ball and socket mounts 28′, 30′ at thefirst and second ends 22′, 24′ similar to the fitting 12 a of FIGS. 2-5.However, the base 14′ of the universal fitting 12 b defines a generallylonger dimension than that of the fitting 12 a of FIGS. 2-5. Further, inthe universal fitting 12 b, at least one of the sidewalls 20′ is formedas a break-out or a knock-out sidewall and includes break-out orknock-out portions 52 for forming a side opening/exit 54 that isgenerally perpendicular to the open first and second ends 22′, 24′. Theside exit 54 provides another option for routing fibers/cables using thesystem 10. It should be noted that both of the sidewalls 20′ of theuniversal fitting 12 b may be provided as break-out or knock-outsidewalls 20′ to allow further routing flexibility to the system 10.

One of the sidewalls 20′ of the universal fitting 12 b is shown in FIG.7 without the break-out portions 52, with the side opening 54 formed.

Now referring to FIG. 8, the universal fitting 12 b is shown with acable management structure 56 (e.g., defining a trumpet-likeconfiguration) mounted to the sidewall 20′ of the fitting 12 b. Thecable management structure 56 defines curved fiber guiding surfaces 58that are configured to meet minimum bend radius requirements as thecable management structure 56 routes cables away from the fitting 12 b.

The cable management structure 56 also includes cable management fingers60 for retaining the fibers/cables within the side opening 54 that hasbeen formed by removing the break-out portions 52.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the depicted embodiment, the cable managementstructure 56 includes attachment features 62 for slidable attachment tothe sidewalls 20′ of the universal fitting 12 b.

Still referring to FIGS. 6-8, the universal fitting 12 b defines a splitline or indent 64 for allowing the universal fitting 12 b to be split orcut down the middle into a ball-only end fitting 12 c (shown in FIG. 9)or a socket-only end fitting 12 d (shown in FIG. 10).

Such end fittings 12 c, 12 d may be used at the ends of a guide system10 that is made up of articulating elements if the ends of the guidesystem 10 are going to be attached to preexisting non-articulating guidesystems or fixtures. In this manner, the universal fitting 12 b providesthe flexibility to use both a ball and a socket mount 28′, 30′ on thesame fitting 12 b or define a ball-only or a socket-only mount at oneend and a straight edge at the opposite end for snapping to preexisting,non-articulating structures.

While the inventive systems 10 of the disclosure have been describedwith respect to cables having optical fibers as transmission media,according to further embodiments, cables having other types oftransmission media (e.g., electrical conductors formed of copper orother metal) may be used with the inventive systems 10 provided in thepresent disclosure.

The individual fittings can be arranged in any orientation relative tothe horizontal or the vertical directions, as desired. For example, theopen top 26 can be oriented to form an open side horizontally orvertically, or other direction.

The above specification, examples and data provide a completedescription of the manufacture and use of the composition of thedisclosure. Since many embodiments of the disclosure can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, the inventivefeatures reside in the claims hereinafter appended.

1. An articulating cable guide system configured for routing cables, theguide system comprising: a plurality of fittings connected together viaball and socket coupling, wherein each fitting includes a base defininga cable support surface and a pair of opposing sidewalls extendingtherefrom, the support surface and the sidewalls cooperating to definean open first end, an open second end, and an open access end of thebase, wherein each fitting includes at least one of a ball mount and asocket mount that is configured to fit the ball mount, the ball mountincluding a plurality of pins aligned along a first plane and the socketmount defining a plurality of slots configured to receive the pins ofthe ball mount, wherein the pins and the slots are configured torestrict the movement of the ball and socket coupling to pivotal motiongenerally along two perpendicular planes, wherein each of the twoperpendicular planes is different than the first plane.
 2. The cableguide system of claim 1, wherein each of the two perpendicular planes isperpendicular to the first plane.
 3. The cable guide system of claim 1,wherein at least one of the fittings of the plurality of fittingsincludes a pivotally closable cover to at least partially cover the openaccess end of the base.
 4. The cable guide system of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the fittings of the plurality of fittings includes only aball mount.
 5. The cable guide system of claim 1, wherein at least oneof the fittings of the plurality of fittings includes only a socketmount.
 6. The cable guide system of claim 1, wherein at least one of thefittings of the plurality of fittings includes both a ball mount on oneend and a socket mount on an opposite end.
 7. The cable guide system ofclaim 6, wherein at least one of the fittings of the plurality offittings includes a sidewall defining breakable portions.
 8. The cableguide system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the fittings of theplurality of fittings is scored to define a breakline for forming thefitting into two different fittings, one defining a ball-only mount andthe other defining a socket-only mount.
 9. The cable guide system ofclaim 6, wherein at least one of the fittings of the plurality offittings defines a side exit in addition to the open first and secondends.
 10. The cable guide system of claim 9, further comprising a cablemanagement structure mounted to the side exit of the fitting, the cablemanagement structure defining minimum bend radius surfaces configuredfor fiber optic cables.
 11. The cable guide system of claim 1, whereineach slot of the socket mount defines detents for interacting with oneof the pins of the ball mount to provide discrete stop positions to thefittings along their pivotal movement.
 12. A fitting configured tocreate an articulating cable guide system for routing cables, thefitting comprising: a base defining a cable support surface and a pairof opposing sidewalls extending therefrom, the support surface and thesidewalls cooperating to define an open first end, an open second end,and an open access end of the base, wherein the fitting includes atleast one of a ball mount and a socket mount that is configured to fitthe ball mount, the ball mount including a plurality of pins alignedalong a first plane and the socket mount defining a plurality of slotsconfigured to receive the pins of the ball mount, wherein the pins andthe slots are configured to restrict the movement of the ball and socketcoupling to pivotal motion generally along two perpendicular planes,wherein each of the two perpendicular planes is different than the firstplane.
 13. The fitting of claim 12, wherein each of the twoperpendicular planes is perpendicular to the first plane.
 14. Thefitting of claim 12, further comprising a pivotally closable cover to atleast partially cover the open access end of the base.
 15. The fittingof claim 12, wherein the fitting includes only a ball mount.
 16. Thefitting of claim 12, wherein the fitting includes only a socket mount.17. The fitting of claim 12, wherein the fitting includes both a ballmount on one end and a socket mount on an opposite end.
 18. The fittingof claim 17, wherein the fitting includes a sidewall defining breakableportions.
 19. The fitting of claim 17, wherein the fitting is scored todefine a breakline for forming the fitting into two different fittings,one defining a ball-only mount and the other defining a socket-onlymount.
 20. The fitting of claim 17, wherein the fitting defines a sideexit in addition to the open first and second ends.
 21. The fitting ofclaim 20, further comprising a cable management structure mounted to theside exit of the fitting, the cable management structure definingminimum bend radius surfaces configured for fiber optic cables.
 22. Thefitting of claim 12, wherein each slot of the socket mount definesdetents for interacting with one of the pins of the ball mount toprovide discrete stop positions to the fittings of the cable guidesystem along their pivotal movement.
 23. A fitting configured to createan articulating cable guide system for routing cables, the fittingcomprising: a base defining a cable support surface and a pair ofopposing sidewalls extending therefrom, the support surface and thesidewalls cooperating to define an open first end, an open second end,and an open access end of the base, wherein the fitting includes a ballmount at the first end and a socket mount that is configured to fit theball mount at the second end, the ball mount including a plurality ofpins aligned along a first plane and the socket mount defining aplurality of slots configured to receive the pins of the ball mount,wherein the pins and the slots are configured to restrict the movementof the ball and socket coupling to pivotal motion generally along twoperpendicular planes, wherein each of the two perpendicular planes isdifferent than the first plane, wherein at least one of the sidewalls ofthe base defines breakable portions for forming a side exit in additionto the open first and second ends, and wherein the fitting defines abreakline for forming the fitting into two different fittings, onedefining a ball-only mount and the other defining a socket-only mount.